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The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Council--and there's only one, final punishment for that crime. He's on the run, wants his name cleared, and needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog. Someone like Harry Dresden.

Now, Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less-than-agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head--someone like Harry.

Harry Dresden is nursing a migrane one summer day when knocking summons him to the door. A battered and bleeding Donald Morgan is on his doorstep. Harry takes him inside to find that Morgan has been accused of killing Aleron LaFortier, one of the members of the Senior Council and a man with many political ties in the White Council. Morgan was found standing above LaFortier's still warm corpse, bloody knife in hand, and a new bank account with in excess of 6 million dollars, by wardens. Morgan escaped custody and gave 3 Wardens serious injuries. Morgan states that he has no recollection of how or why he got into that situation. He came to Harry because it was the last place most people would have expected him to go (because of their past) and because he expected Harry to empathize with being accused of a crime he wasn't guilty of. Morgan only has a few days to find who the real killer is, because (as it's later revealed) he traded in his silver Oak leaf, which he received for services rendered, with the Summer Court. The Summer Queen made him untraceable by magical means.

As Harry starts his investigation he is ambushed by a terrifying unknown assailant, later revealed as a Skinwalker, and forced to enlist the help of the Alphas. In the ensuing battle, Kirby is killed and Andi gravely wounded.